98-30255. Commonwealth Edison Co. and MidAmerican Energy Co.; Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 218 (Thursday, November 12, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Page 63337]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-30255]
    
    
    
    [[Page 63337]]
    
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    NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
    
    [Docket Nos. 50-254 and 50-265]
    
    
    Commonwealth Edison Co. and MidAmerican Energy Co.; Quad Cities 
    Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and 
    Finding of No Significant Impact
    
        The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
    considering the issuance of an order, approving under 10 CFR 50.80, the 
    transfer of control of Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-29 and DPR-
    30, to the extent held by MidAmerican Energy Company (MidAmerican) for 
    possession of the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2 
    (Quad Cities), located in Rock Island County, Illinois.
    
    Environmental Assessment
    
    Identification of the Proposed Action
    
        The proposed action would consent to the transfer of control of the 
    licenses, with respect to MidAmerican's 25 percent ownership interest 
    in Quad Cities, to the extent such transfer would be effected by a 
    proposed corporate merger involving CalEnergy Company (CalEnergy) and 
    MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company (MAHC), the parent of MidAmerican. 
    Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) alone is licensed to operate, as 
    well as possess Quad Cities and is not involved in the proposed merger. 
    MidAmerican would continue to remain the minority owner and possession-
    only licensee of the facility.
        The proposed action is in accordance with the application dated 
    September 10, 1998, filed by CalEnergy and MidAmerican, accompanied by 
    cover letters dated September 10, 1998, and supplemented by a letter 
    dated September 16, 1998, and attachments thereto, from Roy P. Lessy, 
    Jr., counsel for CalEnergy and MidAmerican.
    
    The Need for the Proposed Action
    
        The proposed action is needed to permit the consummation of the 
    proposed corporate merger discussed above to the extent the merger will 
    effect a transfer of control of the licenses.
    
    Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Actions
    
        The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed merger 
    and concludes that there will be no changes to Quad Cities or the 
    environment as a result of this action. The transfer of control of the 
    licenses to the extent effected by the merger between MidAmerican and 
    CalEnergy will not affect the numbers, qualifications, or 
    organizational affiliation of the personnel who operate the facility, 
    since ComEd is not involved in the proposed merger and will continue to 
    be solely responsible for the operation of Quad Cities. No changes are 
    being made with respect to any requirements governing plant operations 
    or equipment.
        The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the 
    proposed action and has determined that the probability or consequences 
    of accidents would not be increased by the proposed action and that 
    post-accident radiological releases would not be greater than 
    previously determined. Further, the Commission has determined that the 
    proposed action would not affect routine radiological plant effluents 
    and would not increase occupational radiological exposure. Accordingly, 
    the Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological 
    environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
        With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
    action would not affect non-radiological plant effluents and would have 
    no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that 
    there are no significant non-radiological environmental impacts 
    associated with the proposed action.
    
    Alternatives to the Proposed Action
    
        Since the Commission has concluded that there are no significant 
    environmental effects associated with the proposed action, any 
    alternative with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
    evaluated.
        The principal alternative would be to deny the requested approval. 
    Denial of the application would result in no change in current 
    environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action 
    and the alternative actions are identical.
    
    Alternative Use of Resources
    
        The action does not involve the use of resources not previously 
    considered in the Final Environmental Statement Related to Operation of 
    Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2, dated September 1972.
    
    Agencies and Persons Consulted
    
        In accordance with its stated policy, on September 30, 1998, the 
    staff consulted with the Illinois State official, Mr. Frank Niziolek, 
    Head, Reactor Safety Section, Division of Engineering, Illinois 
    Department of Nuclear Safety, regarding the environmental impact of the 
    proposed action. The State official had no comments.
    
    Finding of No Significant Impact
    
        Based upon the foregoing environmental assessment, the Commission 
    concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect 
    on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the Commission 
    has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the 
    proposed action.
        For further details with respect to this action, see the request 
    for approval dated September 10, 1998, accompanied by cover letters 
    dated September 10, 1998, and supplemented by a letter dated September 
    16, 1998, and attachments thereto, from Roy P. Lessy, Jr., counsel for 
    CalEnergy and MidAmerican, which are available for public inspection at 
    the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L 
    Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the public document room located at 
    the Dixon Public Library, 221 Hennepin Avenue, Dixon, Illinois 61021.
    
        Dated at Rockville, MD, this 4th day of November 1998.
    
        For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
    Stuart A. Richards,
    Director, Project Directorate III-2, Division of Reactor Projects--III/
    IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
    [FR Doc. 98-30255 Filed 11-10-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
11/12/1998
Department:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
98-30255
Pages:
63337-63337 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket Nos. 50-254 and 50-265
PDF File:
98-30255.pdf